Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Hevi-18 TSS

Today I received an e-mail from Hevi-Shot advertising their Hevi-XII waterfowl loads. I clicked on it for grins and ended up looking at their TSS turkey loads…$103.99 for 5, 12 gauge 3.5” shells. Serious question - I know there are other less expensive options such as Apex or reloading but, if there wasn’t, do any of the TSS fans here truly think there is a cost benefit at that price point? Not insinuating in advance anyone here is a fool but this falls into the fool and his money are soon parted category in my opinion.

Almost $21 per round ????? 😳😳😳

Somebody's drunk. Any flavor of Longbeard XR in
3 1/2" 12 gauge is WAY sufficient for any turkey at any responsibe distance........at 1/10 the price.

But you need to pay $21 per round. Lethality and success rates go up as price goes up. Imagine how many more turkeys you would kill and how much deader they would be if Winchester simply increased the price of their Longbeard rounds.

TSS is nice in a SUB GAUGE...

Anyone that uses it in a 12 gauge is not doing anything more than he could with copper plated lead and correct chokes at NORMAL ranges. For those that cannot get a bird within NORMAL yardage, the TSS will help with those 70 yard shots if you practice.

I shoot TSS in my 20's but would not pay the money to shoot it if I were shooting a 12. Winchester Longbeard is what I would use.

Keep an eye on rogers sporting goods for good deals on TSS and other heavier than lead shot, especially at the end of the season.

And watch the Heavy shot brand - they have screwed with the marketing names… so they “slight of hand” change what you get from one year to the next.

I don’t think they do it with the TSS name.. but with “heavy shot” - it is NOT what it used to be.

At that price, I hope they never sell one round, not one! But if someone wants to pay that, that's up to them.

Smaller gauges is where it shines. Never used it in 12 gauge but have shot it in 20 gauge and there is an definite advantage to smaller TSS pellets over larger lead pellets in terms of pattern density. And there is certainly an advantage in terms of felt recoil regarding 20 gauge versus 12 gauge.

20 gauge, 3 inch, Federal TSS #9, Carlsons .565 choke, 40 yards


20 gauge, 3 inch, Federal TSS #7, Carlsons .565 choke, 40 yards


20 gauge, 3 inch, Winchester XX #5, Carlsons .565 choke, 40 yards

We know the merritt of a 20ga 3" TSS shell, incredible stuff. We also know the price of TSS shells, incredible prices. If I didn't have what I have, there's no way I'd get into TSS with today's prices. Too many years of killin turkeys without using it! It is nice toten around a lightweight, smaller, 20ga though. But at the end of the day, it's a choice...

The Winchester Longbeard 20 gauge is probably the worst 20 gauge shotgun ammunition on the market...low velosity and light payload.

Winchester should have called it the Shortbeard....

I like TSS in my 20ga O/U in the fall. I have used it the last 2 years with excellent results.
In the spring I shoot a 12ga with #5 lead shot. Can only shoot toms in the spring and the birds are bigger generally and respond to a call better.
This falls bird, Browning TSS.

While I’ve played a good bit with the TSS loads for .410 bores and 20ga, I can’t see much reason for them in 12ga. If I need more than 40yard capability, I’ll just grab my Hornet, legal here, and I have reduced handloads just for that.

I do wonder if anyone is buying what the OP posted about and if they'd admit to it if they did... lol!

👍🤣👍

Maybe if a guy feels he NEEDS a 3 1/2" 12 gauge to kill a turkey, he NEEDS $21 shells, too....... 🤔

Even the 20 gauge loads are listed at $81 which is $30 more than Apex. I guess Hevi-shot is just expecting people to believe it’s inflation instead of trying to bend their customers over. Good way to put yourself out of business.

Rogers has some Remington TSS on sale now. 12 gauge was like 37.00

I always used to say that the bullet/shell is the cheapest part of any hunt...

I could agree with that for sure

TSS is a game changer, but not at that price!
I think it's made some of us lazy, in that you don't have to get the bird in as close to make a kill shot.
As stated by someone earlier the advantage for me is not having to carry a 12 gauge and use a sub gauge reducing weight.
The ammo companies are definitely gouging us on ammunition prices, but with primer, powder and shot prices/availability a working man do have a lot of choices.

OTOH, I recently bought a 25-round box of regular Hevi 3” #2s for $60. Guess standard Hevi is falling off in popularity, so they are selling them in bigger boxes at a better price. Bought those specifically for night hunting of coyotes. #2 is the largest shot allowed here for that, and I’m hoping the HS offers better patterns than lead. We shall see. I also have some very old Remington 2 3/4” lead 2s to try as a comparison. Pretty sure those are 1.5oz, while the Hevis are 1 1/8oz. Hevi is only a bit heavier than lead, but the hardness may cause it to pattern better.

I don't need a game changer....

I figured you had to call them closer when you shot them with FAiry dust sized shot.